Musical rocking device



Sept. 17, 1957 c. R. NICHOLS, JR 2,806,397 MUSICAL ROCKING DEVICE Filed June 18, 1954 t INVENTOR. vmuzs /V/a/s United States Patent MUSICAL ROCKING DEVICE Charles R. Nichols, Jr., Gardner, hiess.

Application June 1S, 1954, Serial No. 437,734

12 Claims. (Cl. 84-95) This invention pertains to musical rocking devices and more particularly to musical rocking chairs and the like wherein a mechanical music box is mounted on the chair seat or panel as a sounding board and operated by a special mechanism energized during rocking of the chair through contact with the oor surface on which the chair is supported.

Musical rocking chairs or the like in general have been proposed, examples of prior art being shown in U. S. Patents No. 1,401,229 to Zubryd; No. 2,251,141 to Lehman and No. 2,623,430 to Haselton. Heretofore, however, such devices have been subject to one or more of a number of important disadvantages. Many of them are complex in structure and therefore expensive, prone to mechanical disarrangement, and often sutliciently conspicucus as to snag clothing or detract from the aesthetic appearance of the rocking chair to which they are attached. Others require that the music box be mounted directly on the rocker or some other location which does not provide an optimum sounding board for the amplication of sound generated by the music box and/ or where its delicate movement is vulnerable to dirt or damage. Still others utilize actuating mechanisms, characteristically requiring such contact with the ioor as to wear or otherwise mar or deface the floor or iloor covering supporting the rocking chair.

The present invention particularly contemplates an improved rocking chair and associated music box and operating mechanism which utilizes the rocking motion of the chair by means of a floor contact member to drive the movement of the music box, but which overcomes the foregoing disadvantages to which such prior art devices are subject, by mounting the music box in a protected location providing good resonance characteristics and operating its movement by means of a mechanically simple but eiiicient, inconspicuous, pivotal floor-contact cam member and a pull rod linkage.

Accordingly, it is the major object of the invention to provide an improved music box and actuating mechanism therefor for attachment to and actuation by the rocking movement of rocking chairs and the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a musical rocking chair or like assembly incorporating a music box and actuating mechanism in novel relation.

Another object is the provision of a novel music box and actuating mechanism therefor for attachment to and operation by the rocking movement of rocking chairs and the like which permits the music box to be mounted in various selected ways and locations where it is inconspicuous, protected from damage and operates under ideal resonance conditions to produce clear, loud tones.

Still another object is the provision of an improved actuating mechanism for music boxes adapted for attachment to and operation by the rocking movement of rocking chairs wherein a cam member is pivotally mounted on one of the chairs rockers so that, in operation, said cam member describes a rolling motion on the iloor simulating ice the motion `of the rocker thereby minimizing wear, marring and/ or defacing of the floor or iloor covering.

A further object is the provision of an improved actuating mechanism for rocking chair mounted and operated music boxes which employs a non-rigid link and positive limit stops which prevent over travel of the actuating mechanism and consequent damage to the music box.

A stili further object is to provide an improved music box and actuating mechanism for mounting on rocking chairs which is positive and fool-proof in operation, simple and inexpensive in construction, and inconspicuous when installed.

Preferred structural embodiments of the present invention are hereinafter described in conjunction with the annexed drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a rocking chair showing installation of a music box and actuating linkage according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Figure 1 showing one manner in which the music box may be secured to the chair;

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 2 showing the drive mechanism and other internal details of the music box movement;

Figure 4 is a fragmental elevation of the iioor Contact cam mounted on a rocker as viewed in the direction of arrows 4 4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a section through the rocker and floor contact cam on line 5 5 of Figure 4 showing details of the limit stops for the actuating mechanism;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4 of a modified form of the floor contact cam and particularly of its limit stop structure; and

Figure 7 is a fragmental elevation showing a music box having a modified form of housing to permit mounting on a cleat or similar structural member of a rocking chair.

Referring to Figure l of the drawings, 10 indicates generally a typical rocking chair, here a small wooden childrens chair wherein the present invention would usually be applied. It will be understood, however, that the invention may also be applied to many similar rocking devices such as cradles, rocking horses and the like. The structure of the chair is completely conventional, consisting of a. seat 12, legs 14 at each corner of the seat and a pair of parallel rockers 16 and other typical customary structure such as the arms, back, and braces, etc., which are no relation to the invention.

According to the invention, a music box 18 is mounted on the underside of chair seat 12 and is operated by means of a stiff pull Wire 2t) secured at one end to a ratchet drive which imparts unidirectional rotation to the operative mechanism of the music box as will hereinafter be more fully described. The lower end of pull wire 20 is connected to a oor contact cam member 22 which is pivotally secured to the inner side of one of the rockers 16, in such a manner that as the chair is rocked, the cam is oscillated about its pivot point and alternately pulls down and releases pull wire 20 with a substantially reciprocating motion being imparted to the latter.

One form of the invention will now be described in detail with continued reference to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4. Referring rst to Figures l and 2, music box 18 consists of a box-like housing 26 open at one side, and having three side walls 28, 30 and 32 and a bottom wall 34. The housing is conveniently formed of an integral sheet metal stamping although it will be appreciated that various other materials can be used. The upper ends of opposed side walls 2S and 32 have oppositely extending, right angle flanges 33 containing suitable screw holes (not shown) accommodating passage of suitable threaded fasteners such as wood screws 35, by means of which music box 18 may be securely fastened to any plane surface of the chair, either on the underside of seat 12 or on a cleat secured across the underside as illustrated in Figure 7.

The operating mechanism or movementof music box 18 is substantially conventional and therefore will not be described in detail except insofar as necessary to an understanding of the present invention. To this extent, then, the music box comprises a cylindrical member or drum 36 having an axle shaft 37 and rotatably mounted in any suitable manner within housing 26 with its axis perpendicular to side walls 23 and 32. A pluralityrof small lingers vor projections 3S extending radially from the peripheral surface of the drum are adapted sequentially to pluck selected ones of a plurality of reeds, one shown at 40, Figure 3. Conveniently and customarily, the vreeds consist of a plurality of parallel, adjacent, metal strips centilever-mounted on a stationary boss 42 as by means of threaded fastener 44. The free ends of the reeds terminate in close proximity to Vdrum 36, so that, upon rotation thereof, projections 38 pluck and thus set the `reeds to vibrating to produce musical tones. As is well lknown in the art, each reed is adapted by reason of length Lor mass to have a selected frequency of vibration and therefore produces a predetermined musical tone and by -proper location and spacing of projections 38 relative to each other and to the reeds, the music box `can be made to play simple melodies and harmonies.

In the particular music box illustrated, Vunidirectional rotation of drum 36 is achieved by means of a ratchet drive-comprising a toothed ratchet wheel 46, non-rotatably xed relative to the drum at one end thereof and a pair of`oppositely-acting drive pawls 48 and 50.

Pawl 43 is pivotally mounted as at 52 on a link 54, which has its lower end journalled on drum axle 37, and pjawl t) is likewise pivotally mounted as at 56 on a link 58 having its lower end also journalled on drum axle 37. The upper ends of links 54 and 53 are loosely pivotally connected as at 60 and 62 to the lower ends of a pair. of links 64 and 66 respectively. The upper ends of links 64 and 66 are loosely pivotally connected by a common pivot pin 68 to one end of an inverted channel section lever arm 70, the opposite end of which is pivotally Vconnected as at 72 to some suitable stationary part of the music box structure at the opposite Vend of drum 36 with respect to ratchet wheel 46 so that, as appears in Figure 2, arm 70 and links 64 and 66 bridge the length of drum 36 with the pivotal connection 68 located above the drum and approximately midway between its ends when the arm 70 is at its limit position of clockwise movement about pivot 72, as will hereinafter be more fully explained. Arm 70 is biased toward this limit position by a cantilever leaf spring 74 having one end fixed adjacent pivot connection 72 of the arm and extending along substantially the entire length of and on the underside of the arm, where it is positioned and retained by the side walls of the channel.

Ratchet pawls 4S and 50 are biased in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 3, by gravity or suitable resilient means, not shown. Thus, the linkage 54, 58, 64, 66 is so arranged that when pivotal connection 68 moves downwardly, link 54 rotates in a counterclockwise direction so that pawl 48 overrides the teeth of ratchet wheel 46 while link 56 moves clockwise so that pawl 50 engages the teeth of and drives wheel 46 clockwise. Upon upward movement of pivot connection 63, the direction of movement of links S4 and 58 is reversed and, as a result, pawl 48 engages and takes up the clockwise driving of wheel 46 while pawl Sti idles. Thus an uninterrupted, clockwise rotation of ratchet wheel 46 and, consequently, drum 36 is obtained.

Referring to Figures l and 2, music box 26 is mounted under seat 12'so that the open side of housing 26 faces and is in relatively close proximity to a rear leg 14 of the chair. In this manner, the delicate movement of the music box is protected from accidental damage and is made comparatively inaccessible to children who might be tempted to tamper with it. Furthermore, in this location the music box is inconspicuous and has the largest unitary mass of the chair, viz., seat 12, as a sounding board.

Referring now to Figures 2, 3 and 4 floor contact cam member 22 is a iiat plate, wooden, metal, plastic or the like, of substantial thickness preferably in the order of at least 1/2 inch. The outline of cam 22 comprises a straight-line edge portion 76 joined at each end with a continuous smoothly curved portion 78 of varying degrees and centers of curvature.

As previously mentioned cam member 22 is pivotally secured to the side of one of the rockers 16. Preferably the cam member is mounted on the inner side of the rocker by means of a pivot pin Si) passed through a snitable bore 81 in the cam and driven or threaded into the side of the rocker, a suitable spacing washer S2 being provided between the cam and rocker to limit the area of frictional surface contact therebetween. In this manner, the head of the pivot pin Sti, like the cam member, is on the inside of the rocker, and therefore does not detract from the appearance of the chair.

The vpivot point .defined by pin 35i. is approximately 1/s the distance from one end of the cam. The long end of the cam, comprising the remaining approximate twothirds thereof extends rearwardly, i. e., toward the rear of the rocking chair. The active portion S3 of curved edge 78 of cam member 22 comprises the portion thereof extending approximately between points 84 and 86, which active portion is of such configuration in relation to the location of pivot 86 and the motion described by said pivot during rocking, that as it rolls ,or rocks on the iioor or Hoor covering as the chair is rocked, the cam member oscillates about pin at a substantially uniform rate throughout the limits of its movement. Since the cam member is of substantial thickness, thereby providing a large floor contact area, and because of the rolling motion described by the cam on the floor or floor covering thereby minimizing rubbing or sliding, wear on or defacing of the floor or oor covering is substantially eliminated. And because of the constant rate of oscillation of the cam member, the spacing of the notes played by the music box is uniform Whether the rocker is rocked to the limit of its swing or in very short strokes. Of course, the short stroke will tend to decrease the rate of rotation of the drum in the music box therefore taking a longer time to play the full tune, assuming a constant period of rock.

The lower end 88 of a short length of piano wire 26 or the like is bent at right angles to the main length of the wire and is pivotally received in a suitable aperture 96 in the rearward end of cam member 22. The upper end 92 of wire 20 is similarly bent at right angles to the main length of the wire and also atV right angles to lower end 88 so that the upper end extends forwardly pivotally into a suitable aperture in lever arm 74). The ends of `wire 20 may be retained in their respective apertures by any suitable means. Thus, for example, they may be extended through the apertures and upset, or bent, or provided with adrop of solder. While a wire is .described to connect the cam member 22 to lever arm 70, it will be understood that because during operation this connecting member 20 is placed in tension only, a cable, cord or the like may also be used. The piano wire is preferred because its semi-rigidity facilitates handling during assembly.

Approximately. midway between pivot 80 and the end of the long portion of cam member 22, a circular recess 94 vof substantial diameter and of a depth roughly twothirds of the thickness of the cam plate is provided on the inner face of the cam plate. A sturdy limit stud or pin 96 extends from inner face of the rocker and into and nearly to the bottom of recess 94. The pin and recess coact to limit the pivotal movement of cam member about pivot pin 80 and thereby prevent damage to the delicate music box mechanism. Thus, pin 96 coacts with the upper part of the periphery of recess 94 to limit counterclockwise movement of cam member 22 and with the lower part of the periphery to limit clockwise movement of the cam member. While the relative location of the pin and recess and the diameter of the latter may be varied to suit the operating characteristics of the music box, preferably these are selected so that in normal operation the pin does not contact the periphery of the recess at all, normal travel of cam member being solely controlled by its contact with the floor and the degree of curvature of the active portion 83 of its edge 78 relative to the degree of curvature of rockers 16.

The limit pin 96 and recess 94 come into play to limit travel of cam member 22 only under extraordinary conditions as, for example, when the chair is lifted from the floor or is rocked so that the cam member rolls over an obstacle. Thus undue compression or tension on the wire 20 are avoided.

This form of cam member and limit stop is preferred because the pin is completely concealed so that children cannot be pinched by or catch their clothing on it. It is economical and expedient from the manufacturing standpoint because holes 81 and 90 and recess 94 may be drilled in a single operation.

Other forms of stop, however, may be utilized and one is shown in Figure 6. In this embodiment, the recess 94 of the preferred form is omitted and a stop pin 96 is secured to the inner face of the rocker in such a position that it will be contacted by the upper edge 76 of cam member 22 at a predetermined point in the clockwise pivotal motion thereof.

In Figure 7, a modified form of mounting for music box 18 is shown. In this form flanges 33 are either bent upwardly into substantial parallelism, if it is desired that same housing 26 be used or, alternatively, the housing may be formed initially with parallel, vertical ilanges. At any rate, with the flanges so disposed, the music box may be easily installed on the underside of seat 12 by securing it with suitable threaded fasteners 98, to one of the cleats 100 customarily used in some types of chair construction to tie together the two back legs. Inasmuch as cleats 100 customarily run transversely of the seat, the music box in this case would be mounted in a position rotated 90 from the position shown in Figure 2 and therefore ends 88 and 92 of pull wire 26 would be modified accordingly to permit connection thereof to the cam 22 and lever arm 70. Pull wire 20 would here be hidden from view behind the adjacent back leg 14 of the chair.

Although the operation of the device will be fairly evident from the foregoing description of the structure, arrangement and function of parts, a brief statement of the overall operation follows:

The normal position of the cam member and music box mechanism depends jointly on the curvature of the rockers, the balance of the chair and the location of cam member, the first two factors determining the position the vacant chair assumes at rest and therefore, the corresponding position of cam member 2.2. Therefore, the description of the operation is in relative rather than absolute terms.

Thus, when the chair is in a position tilted forwardly of the median or rest position the return spring 74 of the music box moves lever 70 clockwise to its uppermost position. In this position, wire 20 is moved to its uppermost limit of travel and cam member 22 is pivoted to its counterclockwise limit position. In both forms of limit stop construction described, these limit positions may be dened by the capacity of pawl drive linkage 54, 52, 64, 66 to extend. In the embodiment of Figure 4,

these limits may be additionally or entirely established by contact of pin 96 with the upper portion of recess 94 thus giving an extra measure of protection against forcible overextension of the pawl linkage should the short end of cam be rocked over an obstacle, although, because of its flexibility, wire will not transmit any appreciable force in compression. As the chair is rocked backwardly, the active portion 83 of cam member 22 rolls along the iloor or carpet simulating the movement of the rockers so that the cam member relatively pivots in a clockwise direction toward its dotted line position as Viewed in Figure 4 about pin 80 thus exerting tension on Wire and pulling it downwardly against the force of return spring 74. As already explained, the clockwise movement of cam member 22 is limited, in the form shown in Figure 4, by the abutment of pin 96 with the lower circumferential portion of the recess 94 and, in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 6 by the abutment of the straight upper edge 76 of cam member 22 with pin 96. Were it not for these stops, if the long end of cam member 22 were inadvertently rocked over an obstacle on the oor, a substantial force would be transmitted through wire tending to force the operative mechanism of the music box beyond design limits, which might result in serious damage thereto.

From the foregoing description of certain embodiments thereof, it will be seen that the invention is characterized by many significant improvements over prior art devices. Thus the music box housing is adapted to be mounted on either a plane surface or a cleat, by merely bending the flanges to the proper position. The unitary housing has one open side to permit optimum emission of sound and, by coaction of the housing structure and the drive linkage, the music box may be mounted on the seat, where it has the largest part of the chair as a resonator to increase volume. The housing structure and linkage also permit the music box to be mounted with the open side of the housing facing a chair leg where its delicate internal mechanism is protected from damage and so that it is inconspicuous and does not detract from the aesthetic appearance of the chair.

The entire device is also made inconspicuous by reason of the fact that the operating cam is on the inside of the rocker and no fastenings extend through to the outside surface of the rocker. Two forms of simple and effective limit stops are provided which effectively prevent damage to the music box mechanism but are inconspicuously located on the inside of the rocker and, in the case of the preferred form, the stop pin is compietely enclosed so that it is invisible and prevents a childs clothing from getting caught on the pin or finger pinched between the pin and the cam.

Not the least of these advantages and improvements is the unique operating cam member and its active profile portion whereby a uniform spacing of notes is achieved and wear on the floor or iioor covering virtually eliminated.

From the standpoint of manufacture the device is the essence of simplicity, economy and versatility both in the production of parts and in their assembly.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

l. In combination, 1a structure mounted on a spaced arcuate support means for rocking movement to and fro on a surface, sound generating means mounted on said vstructure and means for operating said sound generating means comprising a cam `member pivoted freely on said support means and having a curved edge portion normally contacting 'and-describing a rolling motion on said surface -When said structure is rocked whereby said cam member is pivotally oscillated, and motion transmitting means -operativelyiconnecting said cam member to drive said sound generating means.

2.V The combination defined in claim l, including stop means on said support means for positively flimiting 'the pivotal movement of said cam ymember in at `least one direction.

V3. 'The combination dened in claim ,2 wherein said stop means comprises a projecting abutment pin and a recess rreceiving said pin,said pin-and .recess being located on juxtaposed surfaces Vof :said support means and said cam member.

4. The Jcombination fdened in claim 2 wherein said stopcomprises'an abutment pin projecting from said support -means and ,adapted .to contact anredge of said cam member at Va preselected point 1in its pivotal movement in onedirection.

5. iIn combination with astructure mountedon parallel arcuate rockers for rocking movement to and fro on a substantially plane surface such as .a floor, a music box mounted on said structure, said music box including an operating drum, a pivoted lever resiliently biased in one direction and means .operative lupon .pivotal oscillation `of said lever to impart continuous ,unidirectional rotation on -said drum, a Vcam member pivotally secured intermediate its ends to one of said rockers, motion transmitting means connecting Yone end of said cam member to said pivotal lever,.a.curved surface on the other `end of said cam member adapted `normally to contact said plane surface, the configuration .of said curved surface being such in relation to the curvature tof said rockers and the location of the pivotal center of said cam member that when said structure is Arocked said curved surface describes a rolling motion on said plane surface and oscillates the cam member ,at a substantially uniform rate, thereby oscillating saidlever to drive :theoperating drum of said music box `at a uniform rate.

6. In combination with a rocking chair, a music box enclosed in a-box-like housing having one open side and mounted on `the underside of the seat of said chair adjacent one side edge thereof with said one open side in close proximity to and facing one leg of said chair, a door contact cam member secured lto the inner side of one of the rockers of said chair Vfor oscillating movement about a horizontal axis in response to rocking movement of said chair, and means for transmitting the oscillating movement of said cam member to actuate said music box.

7. The combination dened in claim 6 wherein said housing is mounted by means of a pair of oppositely extending coplanar anges on the upper ends of opposite side walls thereof, secured to `a plane surface on the underside of said seat, said anges being bendable at right angles into substantial parallelism to permit alternate mounting .of said 'housing on a cleat.

8. In combination with a rocking chair having a music box mounted thereon and operable by means of alternately directed movement imparted to Van actuating member `thereof, means for operating said music box comprising a planiform cam member mounted on the side of one of the rockers of said vchair for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis `substantially perpendicular to said rocker, said cam member having avcurved edge portion adjacent one end thereof adapted for rolling contact with the floor f8 supportingsaid .chair 4,to oscillate ,said cam member at a' substantially Iuniform rate as .the chair is rocked, ,and means @operatively connecting the Yother end .of :said `cam membertofsaid yactuating member.

'-9. In combination with Va rocking chair having a zmusic box mounted .thereon .and operable iby means of .alternately directed irnovementimparted to an actuating member thereof, :means for operating saidimusic lbox comprising an elongate, Aplan'iform cam member mounted on .a side of one of Vthe rockers of -said chair for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis :perpendicular to .the cam member and rocker, said cam .member having a curved edge portion adjacentone end thereo-fadapted to roll on the ooradjacent said rocker as thechairis rocked thereby oscillating said cam member, -means connecting the other end of said-cammemberto'saidfactuating member, and stop vmeans positively limiting the pivotal Vmovement of said cam member.

l0. In combination with a rockingchair, a music vbox mounted on .the underside of the seat of said chair and including an operating lever -mounted at one end for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, ymeans connected to Lthe other end of said lever and operative uponoscillation of -said lever about said -one end -to actuate said music box, means -normally pivoting said lever in one direction, a non-rigid link having one end-secured to said other end of the ylever and adapted when moved in tension to pivot said lever in `the opposite direction, a cam ymember secured intermediate its ends to the side of one of the rockers of s aid chair for pivotal movement about a horizontal Jaxis and having one end operatively connectedto the other end of said link, a curved edge portion adjacent the opposite end of said cam member and adapted for rollingwith rthe floor to pivot said cam member in alternate directions as-the chair is rocked to alternately exert and release tensionon said link, whereby said lever is oscillatedfabout its lhorizontal axis Ato operate said music box.

ll. .-A musicalrocking chair comprising a seat, depending legs and floor contacting rockers atthe bottoms of the legs, a music box mounted on the underside of the seat and comprising a sound producing mechanism, a lever for operating said mechanism and a spring biasing said lever in one direction, a cam freely pivoted on one of the rockers on aV generally horizontal axis and having near one end an arcuate -oor contacting `edge area, and a exible Vlink connecting the other end of said cam to said lever.

lf2. A musical rocking chair comprising a seat, legs depending from the seat, floor contacting rockers on the ibottoms of said legs, a musicbox secured upon the underside of said seat, said music box having a spring biased actuating lever, and a cam pivoted upon the inner side ofone of said rockers on a substantially horizontal axis, a motion transmitting Alink connected between said lever and said cam at one side ofthe campivot, and an arcuate lower surface on said cam vlocated farther away from said pivot than the link counectionand having substantially rolling contact with the oor during rocking ofthe chair.

ReferencesCited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Arceo July 7, 1953 

